On View

Chinese

Pig in a Pen

Chinese Buddhists believed that if the souls of the deceased were denied a proper resting place, they would become discontent and cause trouble in the earthly realm. Donors, artisans, and builders worked in unison to construct burial-mound chambers filled with the comforts and remembrances of life. Chambers for people of higher status were decorated with murals, reliefs, architectural models, vessels, and figures. Musicians played an important role in Chinese court life, performing for ceremonies and rituals, and groups of figures playing instruments were often included in burials, as were horse figures. Horses were prized possessions of the elite, and polo was a popular pastime, especially during the Tang Dynasty.